TAFE and Commercial Radio Australia are launching a Certificate III in Broadcast Technology in 2011 to deal with the looming shortage in technologists and radio engineers around the country. There are financial incentives for stations to take on a Broadcast Technology trainee.

The Communication and Media Department at Petersham College will offer the industry relevant course which aims to give participants the skills to for jobs as Assistant Broadcast Technologist, Broadcast Installer and Broadcast Technical Officer.

Commonwealth and state governments support training and education through various funding schemes. Sydney Institute has “extensive knowledge and experience accessing these funds and can work with radio businesses determine suitability for various funding schemes, access funding to up-skill employees and complete required application forms.”

It is recommended that students have Year 10 Intermediate Mathematics as a minimum before enrolling in this course. TAFE can customise the training to suit company needs and can deliver training in the workplace as well as on the TAFE campus.

Petersham is the only TAFE NSW College to offer Radio Broadcast Technology training. The campus already teaches other radio broadcasting courses run by Ben Starr.

The Core and Elective Units being offered cover ICT use, electronics, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Electronics, General maintenance, Industry context and other important skills for radio technologists.

Stations are being urged to take on trainees and enrol them in the course to develop the next generation of technicians for the industry. For more information and enrolment details for the Broadcast Technology Course, contact David Fuller at Commercial Radio Australia ( 02 9281 6577, [email protected]) or Ben Starr at TAFE ([email protected]).

To view a course brochure, click the link below.